Developer Bill O’Connell Sr. says that “time was right to move ahead” and has filed plans with the Anaheim Planning Department to build a luxury hotel on land just east of the Anaheim GardenWalk shopping area.
The proposed JW Marriott would sit on Clementine Street near Katella, just around the corner from GardenWalk’s Cheesecake Factory. The hotel would have 466 rooms on 12 stories and be just the third hotel in the area to earn AAA’s four-diamond rating. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel have also earned the four-diamond rating.
By earning the four-diamond rating, the developer is eligible for a 70% refund on any bed taxes collected for up to 20 years, which would help offset the $150 million dollar price tag of the high-end hotel.
Approval of the project by the Anaheim Planning Commission could happen as early as November, however there is pending litigation related to campaign contributions from O’Connell that could delay the project for another year.
Jay Burress, head of Visit Anaheim (formerly the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau) adds, “This news elevates the city of Anaheim to an entirely new level for all visitors.”
Source: OC Register
